Students acquire a basic understanding of the science and engineering of space travel as well as a brief history of space exploration. They learn about the scientists and engineers who made space travel possible and briefly examine some famous space missions. Finally, they learn the basics of rocket science (Newton's third law of motion), the main components of rockets and the U.S. space shuttle, and how engineers are involved in creating and launching spacecraft.

The Discovering Matter lesson allows for students to conduct one of their first experiments in 3rd grade. Through the Roadmap they are introduced to the three common states of matter, the terms constant and variable, as well as being introduced to creating a driving question and creating an experiment (with help). The activities can be completed as a group or as individuals. The choice is yours.

Students are introduced to the module guiding questions, which include how the world's freshwater is threatened, in Work Time B. Be aware that some may connect with this topic personally and deeply. Monitor students and determine whether there are any issues surfacing that need to be discussed in more detail as a whole group, in smaller groups, independently, or with families. Students' feelings may be personal, and they are not required to share them.
In Work Time A, students participate in the Infer the Topic protocol to familiarize themselves with the module topic using resources from the texts they will be reading throughout the module (RI.3.1, W.3.8, SL.3.1). They continue to build on the foundations of inferring the topic as they are introduced to the performance task and the module guiding questions in Work Time B.
In Work Time C, students hear a read-aloud of Water Dance and determine the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary (RL.3.4, L.3.4). This text is meant to engage students in the topic with poetry and illustrations and to allow practice determining the central message (RL.3.2).
Students begin a class KWEL chart in the Closing. The process of adding to the chart will be repeated in later lessons. Pay careful attention to the routine in this lesson to apply it in subsequent lessons.
In this lesson, students focus on working to become effective learners as they concentrate on a characteristic of their choice.

Throughout this module, students revisit the module guiding questions introduced in this lesson: "How do writers capture a reader's imagination?" and "What can we learn from reading literary classics?"
In this lesson, students participate in the Infer the Topic protocol to familiarize themselves with the module topic, using resources from the texts they will be reading throughout the module (RL.3.1, W.3.8, SL.3.1).
In Work Time C, students begin reading Peter Pan retold by Tania Zamorsky. The routine of reading aloud as students follow along silently in their heads, and then recounting the chapter will be repeated (with gradual release) in each lesson until students have finished reading the book in Unit 2. Pay careful attention to the routines in this lesson in order to apply them to subsequent lessons.
In this module, a literary classic is defined as a story that was written a long time ago but is still enjoyed today. It is important students understand that one person's idea of a literary classic might be different from someone else's because there are no set rules about what a literary classic is.
Ensure students understand that they are reading Peter Pan as an example of a literary classic and that we can learn things about different time periods in history through reading literary classics. Also ensure that they understand the importance of studying these classics so they can learn from the narrative techniques used.
It is important to be sensitive to students' and families' feelings and experiences with regard to literary classics in the U.S., such as Peter Pan--feelings that may range from very positive to somewhat neutral to very negative. Some people love the adventure, the characters, and the descriptive writing; others find the racism and sexism offensive--for example, the way Mrs. Darling stays at home and looks after duties there while Mr. Darling goes out to work--and also the descriptions of "Indians." These issues are discussed more in the next lesson through an informational context text, but it is important to be prepared to handle them sensitively should they arise.
After reading each chapter, students have time to reflect. Monitor your students and determine whether issues are surfacing that need to be discussed in more detail as a whole group, in smaller groups, or independently.
ELL supports within the Meeting Students' Needs column have changed. Each support is labeled and fully explained the first time it is used, then labeled and condensed in subsequent lessons (see the Unit 1 Overview).
Note that the Mini Language Dive format has changed to reflect a more student-centered approach (see the module overview).
Beginning in this lesson and throughout much of Units 1-2, students are asked to follow along silently as you read the text aloud or to read chorally as a class or with partners. This builds their fluent reading skills. In this lesson, students follow along, reading silently in their heads as the teacher reads Chapter 1 of Peter Pan aloud during Work Time C.
This lesson is the first in a series of three that include built-out instruction for the use of Goal 4 Conversation Cues. Conversation Cues are questions teachers can ask students to promote productive and equitable conversation (adapted from Michaels, Sarah and O'Connor, Cathy. Talk Science Primer. Cambridge, MA: TERC, 2012. Based on Chapin, S., O'Connor, C., and Anderson, N. [2009]. Classroom Discussions: Using Math Talk to Help Students Learn, Grades K-6. Second Edition. Sausalito, CA: Math Solutions Publications). Goal 4 Conversation Cues encourage students to think with other students to expand the conversation. Continue drawing on Goals 1-3 Conversation Cues, introduced in Modules 1-2, and add Goal 4 Conversation Cues throughout Modules 3-4 to more strategically promote productive and equitable conversation. Refer to the Tools page for additional information on Conversation Cues. Consider providing students with a thinking journal or scrap paper. Examples of the Goal 4 Conversation Cues you will see in the remaining modules are (with expected responses):
To encourage students to compare ideas:
Teacher: "How is what _____said the same as/different from what _____ said? I'll give you time to think and write."
Student: "_____ said _____. That's different from what _____ said because _____."

To encourage students to agree or disagree and explain why:
Teacher: "Do you agree or disagree with what your classmate said? Why? I'll give you time to think and write."
Student: "I agree/disagree because _____."

To encourage students to add on to others' ideas:
Teacher: "Who can add on to what your classmate said? I'll give you time to think and write."
Student: "I think that _____."

To encourage students to explain others' ideas:
Teacher: "Who can explain why your classmate came up with that response? I'll give you time to think and write."
Student: "I think what she's saying is _____."

Note that Goal 4 Conversation Cues are not built into the Discussion Norms anchor chart, as these cues are best suited for teachers facilitating student conversations.

A compendium of protocols (structured conversations) used in the EL Education Language Arts Curriculum Module Lessons, as well as writing rubrics (opinion, informative, narrative), speaking and listening checklists, and an explanation of conversation cues. Serves as a critical ongoing reference document alongside the K–5 module lessons in the EL Education Language Arts Curriculum.

After the Great Depression struck, Ford especially wanted to support ailing farmers. For two years, Ford and his team researched ways to use farmers’ crops in his Ford Motor Company. They discovered that the soybean was the perfect answer. Soon, Ford’s cars contained many soybean plastic parts, and Ford incorporated soybeans into every part of his life. He ate soybeans, he wore clothes made of soybean fabric, and he wanted to drive soybeans, too. The resource includes a lesson plan/book card, a design challenge, and copy of a design thinking journal that provide guidance on using the book to inspire students' curiosity for design thinking. Maker Challenge: Think about the people in your community and the challenges they face. List three challenges that affect their daily life. Consider something you use every day and brainstorm how it could be repurposed or modified to address this problem.

A document is included in the resources folder that lists the complete standards-alignment for this book activity.

This is the story of how Les Paul created the world's first solid-body electric guitar, countless other inventions that changed modern music, and one truly epic career in rock and roll. How to make a microphone? A broomstick, a cinderblock, a telephone, a radio. How to make an electric guitar? A record player's arm, a speaker, some tape. How to make a legendary inventor? A few tools, a lot of curiosity, and an endless faith in what is possible, this unforgettable biography will resonate with inventive readers young and old.

Meet savvy scientist and inventor Hedy Lamarr, also known for her career as a glamorous international movie star. Dubbed "The Most Beautiful Woman in the World," Hedy actually preferred spending time creating inventions in her workshop to strutting down the red carpet. Hedy co-invented the technology known as frequency hopping, which turned out to be one of the most important scientific breakthroughs of the twentieth century! Today's cell phone, computers, and other electronic devices would be more vulnerable to hacking without the groundbreaking system discovered by a world-famous actress and gifted inventor. The resource includes a lesson plan/book card, a design challenge, and copy of a design thinking journal that provide guidance on using the book to inspire students' curiosity for design thinking. Maker Challenge: Create small groups. Pass out one of the challenges listed in the lesson plan/book card to each group for them to come up with an invention that will solve the problem at hand.

This unit connects with the third grade Social Studies Unit 1, Ancient Rome. In the Social Studies unit, students study and learn about the values and beliefs of the ancient Roman Empire. In this literature unit, students begin to see the role that myths, gods, and storytelling had in ancient Rome by reading a collection on Roman myths. While reading the myths, students will be challenged to think about how the myths illustrate and show the beliefs and customs of the Roman Empire. Students will also be challenged to think what the myths teach about retaliation and generosity.

In reading and writing, this unit focuses on helping readers solidify their understanding of the connection between recounting stories, determining a central message, and using details to explain how the central message is conveyed. Through multiple readings of the same myths, students will be able to analyze and discover the way in which messages are developed. Students will then be pushed to articulate this understanding both orally and in writing. Rereading the same myth multiple times also supports students fluency and vocabulary development.

Frances Gabe detested housework, so she invented a contraption to free herself from this tedious task forever: a self-cleaning house! Gabe's wacky, wonderful home included almost 70 new patented inventions, from a soap-spraying sprinkler in the ceiling to a kitchen cabinet that washed, dried, and stored dishes all in one place. Though Gabe's invention didn't catch on, her determination and clever thinking remind us that we don't have to accept the world as it is; we can improve it using our minds and our own two hands. The resource includes a lesson plan/book card, a design challenge, and copy of a design thinking journal that provide guidance on using the book to inspire students' curiosity for design thinking. Maker Challenge: Frances Gabe created over 70 inventions because she hated cleaning. What is one thing you hate doing for chores? Develop an invention to have it clean itself.

A document is included in the resources folder that lists the complete standards-alignment for this book activity.

Students brainstorm a list of bucket fillers together to inspire acts of kindness locally and globally

Students will design a survey to explore their classmates' feelings and experiences with bullying. Once the class has participated in the survey, they will analyze the data, discussing implications and how they can improve/build classroom community.

Amy Guglielmo, Jacqueline Tourville, and Giselle Potter tell the story of autism advocate Dr. Temple Grandin’s childhood and her quest to experience the sensation of a hug. The resource includes a lesson plan/book card, a design challenge, and copy of a design thinking journal that provide guidance on using the book to inspire students' curiosity for design thinking. Maker Challenge: Students will work to develop an assistive technology solution for people with autism. Alternatively, students may develop assistive technology solutions for students with differing abilities. Students are encouraged to work with peers in a local special education classroom to combine their love of technology and engineering to help positively influence their peers’ lives.

A document is included in the resources folder that lists the complete standards-alignment for this book activity.

This wiki page documents the STEAM Design Challenge Activity ISKME facilitated during the SLANT Summer Institute at San Francisco Unified School District July 19-23, 2010.Participants designed prototypes for an arts integration project for students and posted their ideas on the wiki.

There are currently three million Indigenous people, from more than five hundred federally recognized Indigenous nations, living in the United States. Since 1492 and the arrival of the first European explorers, Indigenous people's land has been violently seized, leading to a devastating decline in population and the striping away of key aspects of Indigenous culture. It is impossible to synthesize the diverse history and culture of Indigenous people into one unit, but it is important for students to understand that Indigenous people have been, and still are, an important part of our country's history and future. Therefore, this unit has a few focuses. The first focus is on providing students with an overarching understanding of Indigenous people and their history, using the book The People Shall Continue as a guide. After reading the text, students will participate in a guided research project to learn more about an Indigenous nation near where they live. The second part of the unit focuses on different Indigenous people who have worked hard and overcome hardships to create equal opportunities and experiences for Indigenous people today. After reading a few biographies as a class, students will research additional Indigenous heroes to learn more about their achievements, sacrifices, and passions. The goal of the second part of the unit is to shine a light on key Indigenous figures and emphasize the idea that Indigenous people have been and always will be an important part of our country.

Introduction to Informative Writing
1. Students will work in partners or small groups around the room with small sets of text. There can be pre-selected groupings of texts or students may be permitted to work with one book at a time, coming up to get a new one once they have finished. Students should have sticky notes or some kind of note-taking document to write down the similarities among the informative texts.
2. Students put sentences in order. They will pair up with another group and share their paragraph with their group members. They will discuss why they put their sentences in the order that they did, referencing the checklist as they tell why.
3. Students will work in partners or small groups to determine whether texts are informativeor not informative. Students should be prepared to share why they labeled one text informative or not informative.

WEEK 9, DAY 1
Learning about Informative Writing
WEEK 9, DAY 2
Learning to Evaluate Informative/ Writing
WEEK 9, DAY 3
Learning to Write Informative Pieces
WEEK 9, DAY 4
Learning to Write Informative Pieces
WEEK 9, DAY 5
Learning to Write Informative Pieces

In this lesson, students participate in the Infer the Topic protocol to familiarize themselves with the module topic, using resources from the texts they will be reading throughout the module (RI.3.1, W.3.8, SL.3.1).
Throughout this module, students will revisit the module guiding questions introduced in this lesson. It is important to be sensitive to students' and families' feelings and experiences with regard to education, books, and reading and to acknowledge that these feelings and experiences may differ greatly, from very positive to somewhat neutral to very negative. This issue is discussed more in the next lesson, but it is important to be prepared to handle it sensitively should it arise. The main point students should understand by the end of this module is that education, books, and reading are important for college and career readiness, and that is the reason for the emphasis on education, books, and reading in this module. Students reflect on the module guiding questions at home with their families.
This lesson is the first of two that include built-out instruction for strategic use of the Think-Pair-Share protocol to promote productive and equitable conversation.
During all interaction, be aware that partnering with, looking at, talking with, or touching the opposite gender may be uncomfortable and inappropriate for students from other cultures. In addition, some students may believe it is inappropriate to speak with other students at all during class. Let them know that in the United States, speaking with a peer of either gender when the teacher gives the signal is appropriate, and it is one way that students can become independent learners and develop their content knowledge and language ability. At the same time, tell them you respect their needs, and if necessary, seek alternative arrangements for students according to their cultural traditions.
This lesson uses cold calling, or calling on students without them volunteering, as a total participation technique. Be aware that cold calling may be unfamiliar or embarrassing to some students. Prepare students and their families by telling them that cold calling in the United States is common and is a protocol that helps to ensure that all student voices are heard and respected. The protocol also provides the teacher with one way to assess what students know.
This lesson uses total participation techniques for quick response questions. Some common total participation techniques include cold calling, selecting volunteers, and using equity sticks (a stick or card for each student in the class).

Meg set out to climb up and investigate the rain forest tree canopies — and to be the first scientist to do so. But she encountered challenge after challenge. Male teachers would not let her into their classrooms, the high canopy was difficult to get to, and worst of all, people were logging and clearing the forests. Meg never gave up or gave in. She studied, invented, and persevered, not only creating a future for herself as a scientist, but making sure that the rainforests had a future as well. The resource includes a lesson plan/book card, a design challenge, and copy of a design thinking journal that provide guidance on using the book to inspire students' curiosity for design thinking. Maker Challenge: Your community has many different areas to explore - it might be a park, a grocery store, a forest, or an alley. For some people, it might be difficult to explore these areas because they may have differing abilities. Select one area in your community, and come up with a plan to build a way for it to be more accessible to everyone.

A document is included in the resources folder that lists the complete standards-alignment for this book activity.

One type of fictional narrative is a tall tale. Students will be writing their own ending for a new tall tale they haven’t read yet.
They will read all of the different endings they come up with and compare them with how the author, Mary Pope Osborne, actually ended the story.
Planning and drafting are the first two steps. Students will create a draft using the narrative checklist and start by making the graphic organizer. Students will work around the room on their graphic organizers and share with classmates.
Students will continue to work independently to complete their narratives and add dialogue. They will use the narrative checklist to evaluate their own writing, then revise and edit before writing a final copy.